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2020-08-31-accounts

VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

Trustees Annual Report

Reporting Period: 1[st] September 2019 to 31[st] August 2020

Objectives and Activities

The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the Date of Union the advancement of:

Mission

The Mission of Victoria Methodist Church is to respond to God's Love in Christ and to live out that love in God's world. As a Methodist Church, members and non-members alike are welcome to attend worship and activities. The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance for charities for the advancement of religion. In pursuit of its mission, the church has adopted a statement of its Vision to be ‘a Methodist Church which seeks to share the Gospel through encouraging lifelong learning and engaging with and through media and the creative arts’.

Mission Areas

The Connexion and the Circuit use the Our Calling framework and this proposal only modified this slightly to better reflect the areas of challenge for Vic.

The four areas (with the corresponding Our Calling areas in brackets) are:

(Worship)

(Service and Evangelism)

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

Covid 19 Response

Vic “seeks to share the Gospel through encouraging lifelong learning and engaging with and through media and the creative arts.” Since having to close the church for worship and other events due to the pandemic, there has been an increasing focus on the media aspect of our vision and thanks go to all those who have been involved in organising, managing and producing content for this.

The weekly notice sheet has continued to be published and has been providing extra information from the circuit and Connexion as well as disseminating written copies of Wednesday and Sunday services created by Rev Richard Sharples and others.

Facebook has been used as an anchor point for publishing multimedia produced for the remote congregation. Materials published include information about church building closure and services available online provided by other churches. Links have also been provided to recorded services (Wednesday evening reflective Zoom service) and songs recorded by some of Vic’s congregation and uploaded to the church YouTube channel.

After trialling a Sunday morning service using conferencing software, it was felt that, as there were already many options available for Sunday morning services online, a better use of resources could be found. It was therefore suggested that a shorter midweek evening service (more in the style of the Sunday evening service) be held via Zoom on Wednesday evenings. The audio recordings of some of these services were then made into a video transposed with the words of the written order of service (e.g., responses) to be uploaded to our Facebook page so it could be accessed by those unable to join in the live service.

Worship

We are grateful to a large number of people who continue to make worship at Vic possible, including preachers, organists and pianists, music arrangers and musicians, stewards and those who manage the sound and projection. This year has again been quite challenging in filling all the necessary roles, with a shortage of worship stewards and communion stewards; we are particularly thankful for all those who have contributed extra time and energy to enable our services to continue to run smoothly.

Coronavirus impact on services

Unfortunately, in the latter part of this church year, our ability to worship at Vic has been affected considerably by the Coronavirus. Many will have missed (or are still missing) both the shared worship and the social interaction that our meetings afford. We are fortunate in that, for those with online access, we have had a variety of resources made available to us. Our Minister, too, has provided us with thought-provoking and worshipful resources for each Sunday which we can share together in Spirit, even if we are physically separated. At the time of writing, a number of our members are investigating the possibility of producing in-house online services for the congregation; the format of these has yet to be decided but we hope that these will allow our congregation to feel more connected together. In addition, Richard along with others have led the midweek worship/ reflections via Zoom on a Wednesday evening.

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

Learning

Children and Young People

The Junior Church and Den groups at Victoria have had another busy year. As always, we are very grateful to the team of leaders and helpers who run the sessions on Sunday mornings which are so appreciated by the children and young people. The leaders do a great job running sessions with a wide age range, especially juggling the creche and Junior Church groups; at a future leaders' meeting we will be discussing whether there is an easier/more effective way to run these groups within our resources.

After a couple of months' break over the busy Christmas period, the Youth Club restarted in January with average attendance numbers of between 7 and 10 young people of Secondary school age. The young people have enjoyed sharing pizza and watching films but have also been discussing Vic’s Eco Church plans and suggesting ways that Vic can move forward as a greener Church. Some of these suggestions have been taken on board, and others are currently being considered, and the teenagers are delighted that their views have been welcomed/appreciated.

The recent challenges to all of us, due to the virus, have affected the youngsters at church keenly, and we are hugely grateful to the leaders who have been maintaining weekly contact with the families in the form of Zoom get togethers, which have been going really well.

The younger children and their leaders are also greatly looking forward to the second phase of the building works which will make the Sunday morning Junior Church sessions much easier to run, especially as the age range within this group widens.

Away Day October 2019

Celebrating and Promoting Diversity - 50 adults and children attended the Away Day in early October. The day linked with Black History month and with Harvest which was celebrated on the following morning. Three members of our congregation contributed to the day, enabling us to learn more about important aspects of African life and heritage. They also shared examples, when in the UK, an aspect of their ethnicity or heritage had been overlooked, undervalued or denigrated. In the afternoon we explored Prejudice and Injustice through a Dramatic presentation entitled “John Wesley and Equiano”. This was followed by the presentation of four different perspectives on “International Aid – does it address injustice.” The final session was a choice of workshops which included a discussion exploring further issues relating to International Aid; a Game: ‘Which charity?’ enabling participants to explore various arguments and ‘positions’ regarding international charitable activities; and a music workshop to learn some African Worship songs for the Harvest Service. The Ark Project were present for part of the day undertaking creative work with the children. A buffet lunch was provided by Moveable Feast (Bristol Hospitality Network).

Learn and Share Lunches

During the Autumn and January, the monthly Sunday Learn and Share lunches took the theme: God’s Creation in Crisis. This focused on the Environmental Crisis and our response individually and as a

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

church. The possibility of Victoria seeking to become an Eco church was discussed at the January lunch with recommendations developed for the February Church Council.

February’s Learn and Share lunch focused on “God in Love Unites Us” – The Report of the Marriage and Relationships Task Group to the Methodist Conference last year. The session was well attended and there was a positive discussion in which everyone actively participated. The report has also been discussed in House Groups.

Learning Groups

Bible Study

Jeremiah – Prophet for our Time: The six-week study, that started in January, led by Richard Sharples was attended by 14 people. It was engaging, lively, thought provoking and appreciated. The group was helped to understand the context and background to the Prophet and were sometimes surprised by its pertinence and application to the problems and challenges facing the world today.

In July and August of 2020, unable to meet in person, a Bible Study was organised using Zoom. The eight week course, ‘Praying the Psalms’, was devised and led by Richard Sharples and more than 25 people participated.

House Groups

Three house groups have been meeting regularly .Discussion and study have included York Courses (favoured by the afternoon group), the TV series Broken which tackles tricky ethical issues (DVD available for loan), Connexional material on Marriage and Relationship, Prayer and a study guide called Methodism Unfinished by Tom Stuckey ( based on the reflections of 10 Methodists). Between 20 and 30 people attend one of the three house groups. The afternoon house group is currently suspended due to the virus. The Tuesday and Thursday groups are meeting during the ‘lockdown’ via Zoom. We are grateful to those who host and lead the House Groups.

Prayer and Bible Study Group

The group meets every Tuesday to study one of the Lectionary passages for the following Sunday; we have wide-ranging and animated discussions, and we find that hearing other viewpoints can help in thinking about sections of the Bible which can be difficult or challenging. Following the discussion we have a time of prayer, remembering people and situations at home and across the world which we are concerned about. During the present crisis there is of course a lot to consider, and we have managed to have virtual sessions. Hopefully, we can continue to work in this way until we can all get together again.

Book Group

The Book Group continued to meet as part of the 2019/20 programme up to the meeting in the first week of March. We are aiming to hold the meeting that had been scheduled for the first week in May as a Zoom meeting at some point. We have already had one exchange of mails to update each other

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

on our reading choices during lockdown. As with other groups it is as, if not more, important to keep in touch for mutual support as to discuss books.

20s and 30s Group

Throughout 2019 and early 2020, 20s & 30s continued to meet around once a fortnight for fellowship and study. We have welcomed new members during this time, and new or returning members are always welcome. Studies this year have included discussions based on films including The Greatest Showman and The Way. Social activities have included a barbecue, crazy golf, Christmas tree decorating, carol singing and meals out. During lockdown we have met on video calls to have ‘after church coffee’ on Sunday mornings on an ad hoc basis.

Women’s Night

Women’s Night is still going strong with anything up to 16 people attending on a fortnightly basis. This year although it was cut short, we managed to get in some wonderful speakers and a couple of outings as well.

An early visit was to the Synagogue on Park Row, a fascinating place where we were told a great deal about their traditions and worship. Later we went to see the film Little Women. Thoroughly enjoyed by all.

We have learnt about the Jessie May Trust, Bristol Magistrates and the Christian Motorcyclists Association and the Tolpuddle Pilgrimage that Richard Sharples undertook with others. And of course, along with this we had occasions that involved food!

Financially we have raised £361 for charities including The Soup Run, The Tyndale Circle, FOYS, Street Pastors, The Jessie May Trust, The Synagogue, CM Association and Shelter Box. We look forward to being able to resume at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Pastoral & Welcome

Thanks: We say a sincere thank you to our Minister, Rev Richard Sharples for his pastoral care and ministry throughout the year. At this time of the Coronavirus crisis, we thank everyone at Victoria who has volunteered to help in any way and who has kept us informed and connected.

Our text for the year: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God’ Matt.5:9 .

Outreach & Service

Creative Arts Outreach

There have been several creative arts events that have focussed on engaging with the public over this last year.

Bristol refugee artist collective exhibition – The artists were very pleased to be able to use our premises for the exhibition and it became more of a partnership than was first planned with Vic supporting with publicity and stewarding a very positive exhibition which was the focus of our Sunday worship that week.

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

Open Doors weekend – this did not attract as many visitors as the year before but we were able to show hospitality to visitors and many expressed surprise at our beautiful building

West Bristol Art trail - We hosted 8 artists and ran a cafe for both days. It was a very successful event with the cafe making £580 to support our outreach work

Come and Sing - A choir of nearly a hundred plus soloists and a small orchestra performed the Faure Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass to an audience of 70 plus. It was an event greatly enjoyed by all participants and audience feedback was positive.

Searching for Home – the Lent exhibition featuring paintings, textiles and stone carvings from the Inside-Out group plus textile cushion covers by a young artist Amy Richardson was attracting good interest from passers-by as well as from people known to us through our contacts. Two members of the collective led Sunday morning worship at the start of the exhibition. Several further events were planned but had to be cancelled as well as the exhibition because of the lockdown and church closure.

Outreach hospitality

Students were again welcomed to Bristol by our pop-up cafe in Freshers Week. Several hundred students were given tea/coffee/cake and information about Vic.

Calm-Create-Community started on Wednesday lunchtimes in September to offer an open house to anyone wanting a place to be. Creative activities are offered as well as a space for quiet and conversation. This started as a fortnightly event but is now running weekly 12-2pm. Numbers attending are small but those who have come in have found it valuable.

The University Music Department concerts have continued on designated Weds lunchtimes and usually have an audience of about a hundred. We steward and the hospitality is much appreciated as is the quality of the venue.

MMAC/RWA lecture - In October, Professor Ann Sumner, the Chair of the MMAC, gave a public lecture on the impact of war on the artists represented in the Collection. The Director of the RWA, Alison Bevan, then led those who had attended the lecture next door where they were able to enjoy the Open Exhibition. This event went well with an audience of nearly 30 and helped to strengthen our links with both bodies.

Buffalo Bikes . We hosted this exhibition of works by some of the students at the Art School to raise money for a charity providing bikes in the developing world.

Rehearsal space was provided for Joe Topping’s theatre group and two performances of “Painting by Numbers” were held in the large hall. Audiences were small but appreciative.

Supporting the outreach of others

Eight special collections were held through the year.

£200 was given to support the ecumenical Holiday from Home scheme and £200 for the Winter Night Shelter. The Moveable Feast meal at the church away-day raised £460 for the Bristol Hospitality Network for the solidarity fund for destitute refugees and asylum seekers. Jane Stacey

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

Service

Soup Run - This year we changed our month for the churches together soup run to February .This is a permanent change, although we may be asked, alongside other large churches ,to cover a week in June . As congregations age, it is difficult for them to maintain their commitment to the soup run, hence the vacant months, but the need remains. At Vic we are fortunate to have a large number of people committed to sandwich making, donating money and serving food at the park. The number of people we served this year varied widely from week to week - there were sunny Saturdays and also driving rain - but it was always a worthwhile time, with some regular visitors.

During the lockdown, Bristol charities have collaborated to ensure that a food supply is available at a central hub to anyone who needs it. Hotels which no longer have bookings have been used to temporarily house and feed homeless people.

Community Mental Health Support Group

The group has had mixed fortunes this year; numbers dropped a bit, but we decided that we should continue to meet as for several people this is a very important part of their week, and there are four or five regulars who would miss it.

Due to the pandemic the way of keeping in contact was adapted to protect everyone involved. We have continued to be in contact with our members by phone on Thursday afternoons.

Friday Fellowship

This Fellowship is a small ‘outreach’ which our Vic Bible Study Group undertook in 2003 at Avenue House, a Residential Care Home in Cotham. The Vicar of Cotham Parish Church held a Holy Communion Service on the last Friday of each month and so, with the faithful support of our pianists, Alan and Jean, we were happily received on the 2nd Fri. (and we still are). The Fellowship lasts for 30 minutes during which time we sing hymns, lead prayers and talk for a few minutes on a chosen topic encouraging residents’ involvement: all who attend have really appreciated our time together.

During all these years we have only cancelled twice, but now Lockdown has certainly put us all ‘on hold!’ We hope and pray that we will be able to resume the Fellowship and also pray that the Home will be protected from this Virus.

Tyndale Circle Report

In normal times, the Day Centre is open at Tyndale Church every Thursday from 9 30am to 3 15pm when two paid leaders, assisted by volunteers, provide a lively programme of music, games and fellowship for around twelve members. A bought-in lunch is served once a month and on the other Thursdays lunch is cooked on the premises by two volunteers. A much-appreciated quarterly coffee morning, is held for carers to give them opportunities to converse and share practical and emotional aspects of caring and to receive information about State financial aid and other support available to them.

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VICTORIA METHODIST CHURCH BRISTOL

Registered Charity number 1135776

Special Interest

Music

The last year has seen a wide variety of music making at Victoria, both within services and at other events, and has not been without its challenges.

Many instrumentalists at Vic have been involved in services, both organ/piano and the monthly band which plays at All Age Worship services. It is wonderful to see several performers from the Junior Church and the Den in the band on these occasions as they grow in confidence and ability.

The last year has also seen the growth of the monthly evening Taizé services at Vic, usually with a small instrumental group to provide accompaniment to the singers. The number of people attending fluctuates from month to month but the simple style of the worship and music in these services has a wide appeal, and it is lovely that we usually have visitors from the other Whiteladies Road churches. During the lockdown we were due to share a Taizé style service with the congregation at Withywood, so hopefully this can be rescheduled later in the year.

The Choir has been involved in lots of different events/styles of music too this year, from the larger events, such as the Come and Sing in November and the Christmas Carol service, to singing at Memorial services for Hazel Wickham with several other choirs.

Plans for the future are a little uncertain due to COVID-19, and we have reluctantly taken the decision to cancel the Come and Sing event scheduled for this Autumn, but we are planning another musical/Passion play for Easter 2021, and a Come and Sing in November 2021.

A recent addition to the musical timetable at Vic has been the start of a "Circuit Community Choir" - a monthly get together, open to any singers from Vic, or around the Circuit and beyond. We only had one session before the lockdown, unfortunately, but it proved popular, particularly with several nonchurch going singers who have attended past Come and Sings at Vic, so we are keen to get this up and running as soon as we are able.

During lockdown some of the choir and band have been recording themselves singing and/or playing along to hymns which were then stitched together for use in virtual services. These have been a lovely way to share music and fellowship together during this challenging time.

Inclusion

Vic remains a member of the Inclusive Churches group for which we give a modest voluntary donation The Inclusive Churches logo is on Vic’s website and Vic is listed in the Inclusive Churches website .We have heard from visitors and more regular worshippers that this was something they looked for when selecting a church . We all have to work at inclusion, it is easy to overlook, but rather than pigeonhole it into a separate compartment, the Leadership team is trying to ensure that inclusion is considered in everything we do.

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CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMEltrs ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Wictoria Methodist Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2020 Bristol & South Gloucestershire Circuit Circuit no 0702 Registered Chartty - Charity Registration number 1135776 If not a registered charty Her Majestys Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number (The HMRC number 15 equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of e¥llden￿ of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242) Minister= Richard Sharples Church Stewards: MXJ fi5•/x S Treasurer: OnkhoF)otse Moeng (CA)(SA)

ACCOUTr￿5 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020 Wictoria Methodist Church Llnrestricted Restricted Totals this Funts Toiats last year SEclloN A al RECEIPTS Note Offerings and Tax recovered Bank and CFB irtterest Investment income 131.310 131.310 171,649 a3 2.529 2,529 20.557 1.925 a4 Lettings Olher receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS 20,557 a5 2.204 156.599 2.204 156.599 6,985 213,897 a6 (an SECTION B bl PA YMENTS b2 CiTCUIt Assessment or Share 63.256 63.256 48.803 b3 Donations Repairs and Maintenance Ulililies (Insurances. water charges, heab"Ttg & lighting) 18.672 18.672 11,755 b5 18.870 18,870 12,593 b6 b7 Other payments TOTAL PAYMENTS 56.590 157.388 56,590 157,388 41.844 b8 {b9) 114.995 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR cl (a￿8) 89) (789) 98,902 Tot￿ funds brought fonvard from last year c2 373,111 373.111 {c6) 274.209 Sub tolal {cl+c2) 372.322 372,322 373,111 Transfers and adjustments {c7) c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR [￿*¢4) 372.322 372.322 (c8) 373,111 (c61 SEcnoN D NOT APPLICABLE FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS (these amounts are nol to be included in tolal receiptslpayments figures above) dl Bda￿￿ brought foTward from year d2 Olfe¥tngslGifts - received for extem￿ organisaions d3 OfferingslGtfts . passed to external organisatw)ns d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (dl+d2-d3)

VictOTia Melhodist CH SECTION E INTERNAL ORGANISATKYNS OrAiif9 p2 e3 È7 Organratiorts f￿$ leul Chwch accounts Itoth 2-tol￿sCO1Urnnl TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD Y CHURCH 372,322 tlo Ix) 37432? ￿1￿ceSsary btrythe TOTAL REcepr5 TOTAL PAThIEHrs SECTb)N F ATEMENTOF A CLos￿G BALAP￿Es BALANCES Cash In BankCUErentAC￿lrrt 41.754 Bank Dew5itknurt CEntraJ Yinanre 8oafiJ 325.795 Tnthes fty Mefvth5tChurch Purp05e5 Othertund5 SUB TOTAL- Church accounts 367,549 an￿ 10t￿ frorn *thtl le121 [elll TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 367.549 SECThJN G 31￿gUa 2020 gl 4.718 14.114 InclLKle OntyFu￿ts ￿tT￿￿e5 fLY MettKthtCIKrtth

Name of Church". Victoria Methodist Church No: 07102 Declarations and Scrutiny I confi'rm that these Re￿Ipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer .... Date..its...'W. Tre 2021 Name and address oftreasurer. ..wF.rfo. (CAICsfi.).......................... .. Zg....ourL ..P.Cirt.).MatR . Post Code￿.3* i&tl Presentation to the Church trustees I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 vRrelvAI presented to the meeting of the Church trustees held on s(zfLI Signature of the Chair of the meets.ng Name of the Chair of the meeting Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Victoria Methodist Church Charity Number 1135776 Responsibilities and basÈs of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Vthria Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2020 set out on pages 2 to 3. As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for the preparatson of the accounts in accordan￿ wilh the requirements of the Charitses Act 2011 (Ihe Act.). I report in respect of my examinatkon of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my exaJnination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 2015 thLwch R awKI P￿$ 4Lrf5

Name of Church: Victoria Methodist Church No 07102 Independent Examiners Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed bel￿) which give me cause to believe that n. any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection vrith the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave nov obtained independent verification of aIl investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank bdances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are indtvidualty in excess of £IO.000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner (rfAei cet(J i QrrtJT ( ACQ Name offirm (where appropriate) .NJ.e4............................... Address l...Tr. &￿te￿... C Ilcsle. ) A Itjciskot Post Code Uf!F... Date 2015 R and PJ 5(5